Danny Welbeck has admitted that he did not realise how good his Arsenal teammates were until a spell on the sidelines forced him to watch on from a distance.

The 24-year-old, who underwent knee surgery in September, is closing in on a return to full fitness, having been out of action since April.

Nevertheless, the Gunners have flourished without him, with Arsene Wenger's side joint top of the Premier League, and Welbeck concedes that watching from the stands has made him appreciate his colleagues' quality that bit more.

"I've been impressed," he told the club's official website. "I trained with them every single day when I was fit and you obviously appreciate every single player in their own ways.

"But when you watch the game from afar, and you know how difficult it is, some of the passes and vision, the play and goals, is really impressive."

The England international netted eight times in his first season with the North Londoners last term.